Deer Park was no match for District 21-5A champion North Shore in the opening round of the Class 5A state boys' basketball playoffs, following a 60-35 defeat at Summer Creek High School Tuesday night.

The contest was over at halftime as the Mustangs galloped out to a 38-12 intermission lead. North Shore’s defense and quickness smothered the Deer’s offense. Deer Park was 9-of-32 from the floor and 0-of-12 from behind the 3-point arc.

“They’re pretty good, there’s no doubt. They shot lights out in the first half and we couldn’t score. It just didn’t go the way we wanted it to go,” Deer Park head coach Louie Means said. “They got second and third chances in the first half and subsequently they’re up 26 at the half.”

Deer Park, in finishing the season with a 13-22 record, could only find nine buckets. No one drained more than two. Junior varsity call-up Daniel Grider gave the team a tenth score.

Robert Martinez, double teamed by the Ponies whenever he got his hands on the ball, only managed eight points, followed by Dennis Lawton with seven. Taylor Morris and Jeremy Dockan had four apiece. Dockan and Martinez, often pretty deadly from behind the arc, went a combined 0-for-10.

“We tried to practice that stuff (double teaming) during practice but you can’t simulate the same speed with the JV scout team. There were a lot of seniors on the team that I’m very proud of. Six out of 32 kids that started as freshmen and made it all the way through. I told them after the game I was proud of their leadership,” Means said.